Numerous reports have filtered in from Winter Park this Wednesday:
1) Left Tackle Switch
As reported in a previous post, Vikings left tackle Ryan Cook has been replaced by Artis Hicks. Hicks should have a good warmup for the Sunday night collision with Chicago in two weeks as the Vikings will take on Jacksonville on the road. The Jaguars currently rank 18th in the league in sacks.
2) Ready to Rumble?
Former Vikings wide receiver Troy Williamson told Minnesota reporters during a phone conference that "[Childress and I] could meet on the 50-yard line and we can go at it.."
In response, Childress said, "obviously he doesn't know that there is a buffer zone, which far be it from me to violate.
Williamsion will be inactive for this Sunday's matchup due to a groin injury that has plagued him since training camp.
3) Detention for Allen?
Jared Allen paid a visit to the principal's office this week. Allen met with league officials to discuss a possible suspension for two low hits to Houston QB Matt Schaub and a helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers.
The entire state of Minnesota has let out a sigh of relief today, as Allen will NOT receive a suspension, but merely a $25,000 fine for his hit to Rodgers.
4) Williams Wall to NYC
Defensive linemen will visit NFL offices in New York on Thursday to plead their cases after testing positive in October for bumetanide, a weight loss drug and a banned substance in the NFL commonly used as a steroid-masking agent. Each Vikings player's case will be heard seperately, unlike the joint hearing for the three New Orleans players who tested positive for the same diuretic.
If suspended, the Williamses will face a four-game suspension this season. We will have more information on this matter as it becomes available.
-Dan Beer
Showing posts with label Artis Hicks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Artis Hicks. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Cook Out, Hicks In
Chip Scoggins from the Minneapolis Star Tribune has just reported that Vikings coach Brad Childress announced today that Artis Hicks will be replacing Ryan Cook at right tackle.
Cook, now in his third season out of New Mexico, has been under heavy scrutiny from fans lately for numerous holding penalties and sub-par performance in the pass protection. He's been a weekly hot topic on KFAN's Vikings Fanline, with many fans begging for his replacement.
After eleven weeks of the regular season, Childress and Co. have finally answered these pleas.
“It’s a cumulative work,” Childress said. “You’re trying to put yourself in the best position to win games. That’s all I’m doing.”
Asked whether or not he was surprised by this decision, Cook said, "not really. My performance in the last two games wasn’t very good per se so I kind of saw it."
Hicks, who covered for LT Bryant McKinnie during his four-game suspension at the beginning of this season, says he is more comfortable on the left side, but is not worried about the shift to the right.
“I played right tackle a couple snaps," Hicks said. "I think like two or three snaps in a real game situation but I’m looking forward to it. It’s not that big of a deal to me. That’s not to say that I don’t feel comfortable on the right. Naturally, I feel a little bit better on the left. So, I don’t think it will be much of a problem at all. I’ve played the right before. The plays, it’s just a matter of flipping them in your head and just going with it.”
Hicks will get to prove himself as a starter once again this week on the road against Jacksonville's 18th-ranked defense.
-Dan Beer
Cook, now in his third season out of New Mexico, has been under heavy scrutiny from fans lately for numerous holding penalties and sub-par performance in the pass protection. He's been a weekly hot topic on KFAN's Vikings Fanline, with many fans begging for his replacement.
After eleven weeks of the regular season, Childress and Co. have finally answered these pleas.
“It’s a cumulative work,” Childress said. “You’re trying to put yourself in the best position to win games. That’s all I’m doing.”
Asked whether or not he was surprised by this decision, Cook said, "not really. My performance in the last two games wasn’t very good per se so I kind of saw it."
Hicks, who covered for LT Bryant McKinnie during his four-game suspension at the beginning of this season, says he is more comfortable on the left side, but is not worried about the shift to the right.
“I played right tackle a couple snaps," Hicks said. "I think like two or three snaps in a real game situation but I’m looking forward to it. It’s not that big of a deal to me. That’s not to say that I don’t feel comfortable on the right. Naturally, I feel a little bit better on the left. So, I don’t think it will be much of a problem at all. I’ve played the right before. The plays, it’s just a matter of flipping them in your head and just going with it.”
Hicks will get to prove himself as a starter once again this week on the road against Jacksonville's 18th-ranked defense.
-Dan Beer
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